I am a student, in high school in New Jersey. I'm almost 19. Where can I
go to meet other gay girls. I'm so alone. I live in northern New Jersey.

Dear Reader,

No need to worry — there are many social, political, health, and academic resources for lesbians and other non-heterosexual people living in New Jersey...and in the other 49 states, too. Sometimes, it takes a little sleuthing, but patience will likely pay off. A great place to start is right here on the Internet: search using the words "gay" and "lesbian" combined with "centers," "community groups," or "New Jersey." You may also want to look for gay-related sections which are part of many on-line networks. With any online search, you may encounter some sites that are less than desirable for your purposes, but a few minutes should yield some helpful resources. You may also consider checking to see if your school has a gay-straight alliance, LGBT student group or office, Office of Multicultural Affairs, LBGT studies program, or other resources to help you find a connection. Chances are good that you are not the only one seeking sexual orientation or identity-based support. Also, you can usually call up specific resources in your region by checking online directories, the yellow pages, etc. This is not a bad idea if you are looking for resources in other locations, like when planning a trip.

Here are a few contacts to start you off. If you are searching for similar resources outside the Garden State, many like-types of outlets and organizations exist elsewhere, so think creatively.

Rutgers University in New Brunswick, William Patterson University, Montclair State University, and many others have a few gay and lesbian student organizations which would probably be happy to point you in the right direction. There's also the New Jersey/New York edition of the Gay & Lesbian Yellow Pages: gay bookstores and large chain booksellers should have this extensive guide in stock.